How to keep distance from a beautiful girl

"Can I ask you one thing?

No way.

"Why, why! I haven't said anything yet!

"Ah, okay, okay. What the hell?"

"Already....."

Funny nails.

"... why can't Nanba be a friend?

Orange has heard such a thing again.

"I told you before. It's because I have a bad character."

"Yes, that's what he said. I don't think I'm a good person."

"... if you remember"

"Now, do you remember what I said at that time?

Orange looked at us after saying that.

That must have been when the public baths came back together.

Follow the memory.

And I hit the right answer right away.

Yes, oranges at that time.

I said, "I don't think so."

"... I see. So?"

"After all, I still feel the same now. Nanba is a kind person. I know very well. But how did this happen...? I want to know."

In addition to his thoughts, Tangerine looked serious.

Why do I have to tell you that?

If they weren't oranges, I'd have given them back.

But apparently, I trust in oranges.

Even after all this pursuit, I hardly felt uncomfortable.

"What are you going to do when you ask me that?"

"... I told you before. I love Saki and Chitose."

"You said that."

"I'm really glad to be friends with those two. And so did Nanaba."

"... I see."

"Yes, and you should have friends like that with Nanba. You're a good person."

Orange said so, and looked at the tank again.

From the side, you can see that you are nervous.

It was an unusual expression for oranges. It was the first time I saw it.

"... no, it's not. I should be able to do it, but I'm not trying to say it from above... what I'm trying to say is,"

"... okay, don't pick so many words."

Now, I won't get hurt in one way.

Rather, I wanted to know what Tangerine thinks.

I wanted to hear exactly what my friend wanted to say to me.

"... I want Nanba to have a good friend. I'm sure you should be loved more."

"... what is that?"

The back of my nose became hot.

My eyes hurt and my eyelashes felt a little wet.

Orange stared at only one point of the sea in the tank without realizing it.

"... this is what I did in junior high school."

"Eh...."

"This is how I looked at the tank on my junior high school trip."

"... yes"

"Then the one who was my friend at the time... well, the one who talked relatively well told me. It's creepy."

……

Orange doesn't look at us.

He just leaned a little and listened to me.

"Stupid me, I talked to him about the quality of the tank. And then he said," I don't know what that means. "

That face mixed with disgust and contempt.

That wicked, twisted mouth, as if you had found a traitor.

That's what friends meant to me.

"Why is it creepy that you don't know? There's something I don't understand. But I don't think it's creepy. I just think there are people who think that way."

"... I see."

"It wasn't once or twice. I thought I couldn't do what I wanted to do to make friends. Then I don't need a friend. I'm the most important thing. If you have to take care of other people's eyes more than I do, you don't need friends."

……

"... that's why I don't make friends, and I can't make friends. It's simple."

Orange touched the tank.

The water droplets are wiped and the connected droplets flow down.

"... but I want to be friends with such Nanba."

My vision is shaking.

I can't see inside the tank and my teeth tremble.

"What about you?

I was crying.

He pushed his voice in the corner of the aquarium and burst into tears as he embarrassed the girl next door.

"Ku, Nanba? Well, what's the matter? Huh?"

"... no, it's nothing. It's nothing."

"It's nothing....."

Orange stood up and appeared to be right near me.

Pom, there's something soft on my head and I'm slowly stroking it.

Every time the hand moved, tears began to overflow.

Wiping it with the sleeves of your clothes won't stop you forever.

I've never been told that.

You want me to be friends, you want me to be friends.

"... I don't believe it, I..."

"... even if you don't believe me, it's true."

"I... can do it alone. I don't need that from the beginning, anyway."

"I'm your friend now, even if I don't have to leave someday. I'm a normal friend who likes you as you are."

I cried.

I shook my shoulders and even cried without worrying about my friend's shame or appearance.